★ An extremely rare tetrassarion of Marcus Aurelius from Nicomedia ★

BITHYNIA. Nicomedia. Marcus Aurelius, 161-180. Tetrassarion (Orichalcum, 29 mm, 19.07 g, 7 h). AYT•K•M•AY ANTΩNЄINOC Bare-headed, draped and cuirassed bust of Marcus Aurelius to right, seen from behind. Rev. ΜΗΤ[ΡOΠ ΝЄ]ΩΚΟΡ / NЄIKOMHΔЄI/AC Galley under sail to left; in bow wave, dolphin; to lower right, uncertain symbol (small ship?). Naumann 44 (2016), 562 corr. ( same dies, but reverse misdescribed). RPC IV -. Extremely rare. Very fine.

An interesting minor detail about this coin is the dolphin playing in the bow wave of the galley.